There
are only three official states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. However,
plasma is sometimes considered the fourth state, but this remains under the microscope, even though plasma makes up about 99% of the known universe. It is the gaseous form of any kind of matter that has been ionized. . Every
state of matter has the same molecules or atoms as another state of the same
substance, meaning that it is a physical change when a substance changes from a
liquid to a gas, or vice versa; and that the molecules/atoms stay the same (h2o
means ice/water/water vapor; etc.)
The kinetic molecular theory is a revision
of the particle model of matter, and states that all matter is made up of very
small particles, these particles are in constant motion, there are empty spaces
between these particles, both the particles and spaces are too small to be
seen, and that energy (mainly heat) makes the particles vibrate faster.
There are also definitions/an explanation of what a certain stage of matter
will act like; solids, liquids and gases are included in this theory, as
listed below.
Solid: To classify any sort of matter as a solid, it must
have a fixed mass, fixed volume, and a fixed shape. As for the kinetic
molecular theory, a solid's particles are close together and move slowly so
that they can only vibrate. Below is a picture of a pebble and a leaf: both are
examples of solids, even though the rock can be smashed and a leaf can be bent (physical changes).
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